Swaziland Day 7

Hello everyone,
Please forgive me for not posting until now! I am blessed to get to finally do it tonight. Let's just say the internet and

timing is less to be desired so here is your warning...THIS IS A LONG POST! BUt I don't know when I will get to do it

again! So let me start by saying the water source is interesting and lacking at times and the breakfast....hmmm...well I'll

just say I am glad I don't normally eat breakfast!

Now that I got that out... that is all I will dare to complain about!
I am overwhelmed with JOY and thankfulness to God for him consistantly revealing himself to me, our team, the Bomages

(Carepoint Mother's that we were calling Go-go's...oops:) and to the children and their families. There have been several

moments thus far on the trip that God has shown us that He is in control and we are just along for the ride. For instance,

all 24 bags were waiting for us in Jo-Burg when we arrived, we were spared turmoil even though there was a strike crisis

and people were being arrested by the large police force (even from our hotel as we walked in!). Everyday we have handed

out gifts for the kids at the end of the day like a bag of school supplies, fruit, candy, balls, frisbees, the little

dresses we made (I'll tell you more about this awesome gift in a bit!) and shoes, however while doing this there were

several times that I was getting nervous as I saw what was in my hand and knew the line of children were much longer than

what we could give.  I just prayed that God somehow mulitply our supply and sure enough we would have the EXACT amount with

not one item left over OR another bag of whatever we were given just so happen to show up!!  I'm telling ya...I have story

after story of this happening to us while we have been here!  I have been so encouraged by our team and how they are

overcoming so many obstacles (because even the simpilist of things down here are just difficult most of the time and yet

everyone takes it in stride. Especially our two teens who are with us. This young man and young lady are true gems! Their

heart to serve our Heavenly father shows by their flexiblity (a reality we have all had to learn), their respect and their

desire to constantly love on our Carepoint kids is so guniuine and touching. GOd is using our entire team in wonderful

ways. Don our team leader has been doing a much better job blogging about our trip so I would encourage you to take a look

at our www.Knowntome.net website for daily details and pictures. These kiddoes are cute as pie so I know you will want to

see them!

Yesterday was a really fun and exhausting day! We got to go see where the Mobage's of the carepoints get to go and make

purses and bags for a little income for their families. I was expecting to see a mini factory well I guess you could call

it that except the only machine there was one sewing machine! It was great to see these hand made bags and purses and I am

excited to bring many of them home! We are going to be selling these purses at our upcoming CHOSEN adoption conference in

October!

Then it was time to head back to the carepoint to hand out the dresses and shorts. These kids have been so grateful for all

the other gifts they have been given that I was confident they would love these beautiful clothes that many of you have

made for them and I was right! IT was so beautiful to see the children's faces light up when we dressed them in thier new

clothes! They are going through so much and many of these kids are so broken and hurt by their situations so to see them

feel special was such a GIFT FROM GOD!  At the end of the day we were all getting so worn out and a couple of our team

members felt emotionally drained that I started to wonder..."Are we really making a difference here?" Will candy, hugs,

smiles, clothes, playing really make a difference in the lives of these kids? Will they really draw closer to Jesus because

of these simple acts?

Then today happened! It really didn't start so well but once we did our team devotional this morning it all started to

change. In this study God reminded us to serve Him through WHATEVER He asks, WHENEVER He calls, WHEREVER He leads us and

WHOMEVER HE wants us to serve.

SO then we head to the carepoint to Wash "these babies feet" as one teammember says :) and to hand out shoes to the kids

afterwards. Let's just be honest...washing another person's dirty feet is not exactly on the list of must do's in our

life....or at least it wasn't on mine....UNTIL TODAY :) SO the serving God in WHATEVER He asks really humbled me.  I think

God gave me a little attitude adjustment. DON'T get me wrong....I was planning on doing it without complaint HOWEVER GOD

WANTED MY WHOLE HEART IN THIS ACT!

Then not too long after we went to the carepoint...we were asked to do a home visit. Now these home visits have by far been

the most emotional experences for me...and too many stories to share now but the way these families live is so humbling.

This is where we heard many heartbreaking stories and so today I was extrememly taken back when we were asked to go to a

homestead where three of the children had just lost an aunt...the one that took care of them! So on the way there there was

an older man who has been helping at the carepoint and a bomage following us. THey were talking behind me as Behki (one of

our decipleship teammembers at our carepoint) and I carried a 45 pound bag of food to the homestead. (BTW it was about a

1/4 of a mile of rough, rocky, thorn bush path led by three little children the youngest not being more than 3years and

they walk this everyday by themselves!) At one point Behki looked over at me, smiled and said the people here can not

believe how kind you all are, being willing to come and be with this family in thier time of need. It was what I

needed...that word of affermation that we ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE! BUT God didn't stop there. NO you see we went to this

homestead and spent some time praying with this family, sharing GOd's word and hearing there story and AGAIN, GOd affirmed

us because the Eldest gentleman thanked us and said they were all so blessed that in their time of need we came and visited

them. THey said they felt encouraged that we were there. He also said thank you for leaving our families, traveling so far,

 caring for the kids at the carepoint, visiting homesteads and bring food! He said their community has NEVER experienced

ANYTHING like this and they are very overwhelmed! It was our opportunity to turn our work upward and to Glorify God with

our hands and feet!

SIGH....it was just the start of a beautiful day!

I will finish the rest of the story at a different time...until then.
 Please continue to pray for our team, our kids at the carepoint and the families we are reaching....we are starting to see

positive change!

Blessings to you!!

Love, Michelle

11 days till we leave!

I can't believe my team and I are leaving for Africa in 11 days! It seems seriel to me and yet I feel a bit frantic thinking of all the things I want to do before I leave. So much so that I am really praying for things to slow down and I can use my time efficiently. As you can imagine the whirl of emotion I am feeling being this is my first time away from my family for this long, being on a mission trip, leaving the country (besides the Bahamas and Cancun) and the anticipation for how God will use me at Ludlati. I keep praying for God to help me savor these sweet moments with my family and to leave them remembering my gentleness and patience and not a stressed out momma! I would appreciate your prayers for these specific things if you would please consider it.

Now enough about me....I have so much to tell you about how GOD is blessing this trip!

First off many of you know that this past spring we (CHOSEN, our adoption and orphan care ministry at First Christian Church) invited our church body to make little pillowcase dresses and shorts for the children of Ludlati (the carepoint I will be visiting). We really hoped to receive 100 pieces of clothing and GOD PROVIDED OVER 500!!!  (I hope to get some pictures on here of these beautiful dresses when I figure out how do upload them :) I keep hearing stories of renewed faith and a renewed sense of God using folks that didn't think they had anything to give anymore! Amazing huh!  I am simply in awe how God is awaking His church at First Christian to care for those who need us most!

Next GOD has taken care of all the little details of this trip...like reams of paper and soccer balls just showing up at church! Someone has offered to provide any extra shipping costs and there are an abundance of funds that are still coming in! We are so excited to get to use these additional funds for shoes for ALL the kids at Ludlati! We still need a little bit more but I am confident GOD will provide! 

GOD is showing our team how to trust in Him, how to be obedient to Him and how to be humble. I know there is more to come and will be more to share. SO KEEP LOOKING for more posts and please pray for our team!

Here are a few prayer requests I have:)
1. That we as a team will continue to be humble and that our work will glory the Lord.
2. Safety and health for our team.
3. That our family back home will not be unsettled while we are gone but that friends and family will help out     anyway they can.
4. That we will be able to develop a solid relationship with the Gogos (grandmothers) and children at Ludlati.
5. That they will know they are deeply loved by their Heavenly Father.

I think that is all for now!
Praying for you too,
Michelle :)

My BFF

Todd has been in Haiti for almost a week now, and other than one very brief email and a few facebook status's from the trip leader I have had no communication with my earthly best friend for a week! We are that weird couple that talks multiple times a day and I can honestly say I don't know if we have ever gone one day without some form of communication! This has definitely been the hardest part of the trip for me.  Today, as I was cleaning a toilet it hit me. I have been so busy this week being a single parent and truthfully trying to keep my head afloat that I have not spent hardly any time with God! I mean, I have been praying...A LOT, but I have not actually set time aside for just Him! My husband is in a different country doing HIS work and I don't even have the "time" to spend with Him at home?  Crazy!

When I realized this I was actually, calling out to God and telling Him how much I missed Todd and how hard it is to not spend that "time" with him! The response I heard was..."now you know how I feel about you, I miss you Michelle!"

WOW!!!

I have a friend in Jesus and I have known this since a little girl, but today He reminded me that He misses me when I don't spend time with Him.

He misses you too. When you are busy, I encourage you to still chisel out that special time with your best friend. God loves you and wants you to know Him more.

My prayer is that any who may read this will find time today, to spend with their heavenly BFF.

Todd's Heading to Haiti

Tonight, Todd just finished a letter that many if not all of you will receive letting you know about his upcoming trip to Haiti. As I read it over his shoulders I literally started to be filled with emotion. Is this really happening? Is He really going to be doing what we have talked about for almost two months now? In my previous post I had described what our friends Judith and Julie were experiencing right after Haiti's quake. I even asked for specific prayer requests and one being that God would prepare teams to mobilize into action. At that time...while Todd and I wanted to be a part of that mobilization...it just didn't seem to be the reality of what God was going to do with us. Well, I was wrong. He was just having us wait for His timing. So in about 4 weeks...the love of my life here on earth will be leaving to go be the hands and feet of the love of my life in heaven. I am feeling so much and yet trusting that God will use him to Glorify HIM. So tonight I pray that God will keep us steady and solid and not wavering in that trust and faith and may God prepare our hearts for what work He has in store for Todd and prepare the hearts of the people for whom Todd will be helping. For the Kingdom and the Glory are Yours forever and ever. AMEN

Hurting for Haiti

I just spoke to my dear friend, Crystal who confirmed that Judith and Julie were safe. They just returned to the states and had to leave their father, mother and family back in Pillatre, Haiti. Many cousins and relatives of the girls did not survive through the devastating quake. To hear Crystal's words made my heart sank. I sit here numb, hurting, and eager to jump onto the next plane to offer my meager assistance. However, Crystal confirmed that this is just not possible right now, maybe in the future but not right now. I had called her on behalf of Todd as he too is eager to help in anyway possible. Prayer. That is the immediate need she said. It seems too simple, to subtle, to easy, and yet this is the most effective tool that the Haitians need from us, Prayer. Hard to wrap my head around this but this is what God calls us to do in the time of need. He calls us to cry out to Him! I know that God is in Haiti, suffering with those who are hurting, lost and devastated. I know He is hurting, and devastated as well. So here I am wanting to be there when He is already there. So I pray. Will you pray with me? These are some specifics that they need.
1. Protection for the people who are already doing God's work, specifically Pastor Manno and his wife Prisca (Judith and Julie's parents)
2. Restoration for the Heartbreak they are all experiencing
3. Physically that God will heal those who are hurt
4. Spiritually that God will continually be revealed to the Haitian people even through this devastation
5. That teams will rise up and be ready to go when God says it is time
6. That Satan's schemes will be denied.

There is so much more to pray for as I am sure you are already praying.
May God receive all the Glory!

The Blogging Journey Begins- Welcome 2010!

The first day of a new year seems like a good time to start a blog, right? As like many of you I have spent the last several days reflecting on 2009 and looking forward to 2010. I can honestly say I do not know what this blog will look like one year from now. My intention at this time is for this to be an online journal that I will one day be able to share as a memoir of our life with our children. I end today with a prayer. God help us to surrender our hearts, our needs and our wants and may we honor you with our words and our deeds. Lord, open our eyes to your work and give us the courage to follow and trust in your ways. May my children draw close to you and may you protect them from my shortcomings. Thank you Father for loving us unconditionally, may the world know you better because we love and obey you here on earth.

Happy New Year my friends!